Viridis - A Steampunk Romance (9 page)

“I’ll be fine. There’s no need for you to worry.”
She waved away his concerns.

He shook his head in frustration, looking at her in
disbelief. “You cannot go alone, Phoebe. You’re being foolish.”

She met his glare with her own. “If I choose to go,
with or without you, it’s no one’s decision but my own. You’re not
my father or husband, Seth Elliot, and even if you were, it would
make no difference. I’ve been conducting business in that
neighborhood for months, and I have no intentions of stopping.
There are far too many women that have their every movement
dictated by the men in their lives, and I refuse to add to their
ranks.”

“Do you think me just another ignorant man, too
scared to admit women are just as capable as men? Is that what you
really think?” Seth paced the room, stopping in front of the fire.
“Am I being so unreasonable to want to accompany you when there’s
been a man murdered and a girl’s gone missing—all with connections
to your club?”

Finally, she said, with no heat or edge to her
voice, “No, you’re not being unreasonable.”

“Just promise me you’ll not go there alone. If
you’re still going to look for Lilly, then at the very least have
Gabriel accompany you.” Tucking his shirt into his pants, he said,
“Get dressed, and I’ll call you a coach.”

“Seth…” She went to his side and reached out to take
his hand. But he took a step back, his body rigid, and she knew
she’d pushed him too far.

“What is it that you want, Phoebe?” he asked, his
voice tired, exasperated. “Tell me, and I’ll do all in my power to
make it right. I know I wronged you by leaving, and I understand
you’re hurt, but if you cannot accept my apology and amends, than
I’m afraid this cannot continue. I love you too much to have our
love die a slow death at the hands of distrust and wariness. You
once loved me, Phoebe. Do you still?”

“Yes, I do.” The words were out of her mouth before
she had given them any thought.

“And do you trust me?” His eyes pinned her to the
spot. Her world spun frantically as she searched her heart for the
answer.

He saw her uncertainty and it was answer enough. He
turned to go.

“Yes. I do trust you.” She reached for him again,
and when he turned to face her, she saw that he didn’t believe her;
he thought her answer was an act of desperation.

“Do you really, my love?”

Chapter Eleven

William sat at the kitchen table in Genie’s House
and watched as Mrs. Farthing bustled around the place, putting
together a plate of bread and cheese for him, the tea already
steeping. Finally, with a plate of food and a steaming cup placed
before him, she settled into the seat across from him.

“I cannot say for sure when I last saw Lilly come
through here, but it must be a few days gone past. Had gotten her
own place not long ago, what with the work she’s been able to get
at Lady Phoebe’s place. Now there’s a saint for you. We’d have none
of this,” her hand swept to take in the area around her, “if it
weren’t for her.”

Many ladies of wealth often volunteered their time
to help those in need, though most tended to keep a safe distance
from the reality of things. He was surprised to find that Phoebe
had volunteered her time here, in one of the poorest areas of
London, despite the time constraints Viridis must put on her.

“Does Lady Hughes volunteer here often?”

“Volunteer? Och, I see what you’re getting at. No,
no, you’re mistaken. This place is hers. She bought the building
‘bout five months back. Has food sent and a doctor that comes
regular like. Even has us learning to read and write.”

He was stunned. “I had not realized. Is this where
she made Lilly’s acquaintance, hiring her for Viridis?”

“Aye, that would be about right. As for Lilly, she
stops in now and then to check on things and see how we’re doing. A
sweet girl she is, and smart too. I do hope she hasn’t gotten
herself into any trouble.”

William had to be careful. If he asked too much, too
soon or phrased the question in the wrong way, any cooperation he
received would be jeopardized. He gave her a reassuring smile,
taking the time to enjoy his steaming drink and a bite. “No. No
trouble that I’m aware of. Lady Hughes had not seen her at work in
the last few days, but had this listed as her address. I just need
to ask her some questions regarding a friend of hers. I don’t
suppose you would know where her lodgings are?”

“Och, sure enough. Not far from the corner of York
and Mason. Just a room, but it’s her own, and an accomplishment at
that.” She poured him some more tea, all the while, keeping an eye
on the girls as they worked.

“Lady Hughes mentioned a sister who works here. Do
you know where I may find her or if Lilly has anyone else she might
stay with?”

“None that would be able to put her up for the
night. Has just the one sister, Anne. The girl does indeed work
here, and stays with Lilly most nights. Should be around here
somewhere.” She grabbed the closest girl to her, and sent her to
find Anne. “She may know where her sister’s gotten to.”

“Thank you. I appreciate your help in the matter.”
It wasn’t long before a slip of a young woman with a brisk walk
approached them.

“Anne, this here is Inspector Thomas. He has a few
questions to ask you.” Mrs. Farthing vacated her chair and eased
the girl into her spot. “Now you be sure to help the Inspector in
any way you can, you hear?”

“Aye, Mum.” Anne watched Mrs. Farthing’s retreating
form, then turned her gaze on William. “What can I be helping ye
with? I ain’t done nothing wrong.” Eyes the color of ice, pinned
him with a matching glare.

“No, you haven’t. Not at all. I was actually hoping
to find your sister.” He quickly continued, stifling Anne’s protest
regarding her sister’s innocence. “I’m not saying she’s done
anything wrong, either. I just need to ask her a few questions
regarding a gentleman from the club, Viridis. Have you seen her of
late? She hasn’t been to work and the last few days, and I know
Lady Hughes is worried about her welfare.”

He could see her debating whether or not to offer
him her honesty or assistance. If his instincts were correct, he
suspected she too had not seen Lilly and was worried for her
sister’s well-being. He only hoped her concern was greater than her
suspicion of law enforcement.

“Lilly, she tends to come an’ go. Been gone days
‘afore, so it ain’t mean nothing that she’s not around. Just like
‘er it ‘tis to go missing, but she always comes back. Would ne’er
leave me, seeings I’m all she’s got left of family.”

“I hope you are right. I’m concerned for her safety
and worry she may be in danger.” He hated having to prey on her
fears, but it was not far from the truth that she could come to
harm. If she was not guilty of murder, than there was a good chance
she may have seen or heard something that could put her in danger—
if he wasn’t already too late. Why else would she be missing?
Either she was guilty, had come to harm, or had been frightened
into hiding.

He refocused his attentions on Anne. “Mrs. Farthing
mentioned she has lodgings not too far from here and that you also
stay there on most nights. I was wondering if you’d be willing to
let me have a look around. There may be something to help us find
her, or at the least, let us rule out that she is in danger.”
Reluctantly, Anne agreed.

Leaving the shelter, they walked down several roads
before coming to a boarding house in an area only a little safer
than where they had been. They had not spoken on their way here,
and even now William followed Anne in silence, up the narrow
stairway to a dark landing where she fumbled with her keys. The
door swung open, and he followed her into a small room with two
beds, a wardrobe and an end table. Despite its size, the room was
clean and tidy with a warmth William had not expected.

“Tis not much, but ‘tis safe and a start, aye?” Anne
took a couple steps towards the center of the room and looked
around. “As ye can see, Lilly’s not ‘ere.”

“Have you checked to see if anything is missing? Has
she taken any clothes? Is anything of value gone?”

“I’m afraid there ain’t much of value, aye?” Despite
the slight annoyance in her voice, Anne moved to the wardrobe and
pulled open the doors. She shifted the clothing around to take
better inventory, before finally saying. “I cannot be sure, but I
do no’ think any of her clothing is missing.”

With an efficiency of movement that held a certain
grace and power, she went on to check the single drawer in the
wardrobe and then the nightstand in turn. William watched as she
moved around the small space, garbed in drab grey designed for
utility and several sizes too large for her slender frame. However,
not even her dull clothing and dismal surroundings could put out
the fire and intelligence behind those blue eyes.

“Nothing else here’s missing, but there’s one more
spot I need to check. If ye do no’ mind, I’d rather ye turn around
or step outside. I know ye’re police, but it ne’er hurts to be
safe.”

A smile crept across William’s face as he turned,
his back facing her. “No, it never hurts to be cautious.” From
behind him, he could hear a bit of thumping on wood and some
sliding sound where they obviously kept whatever monies and
valuables needed stashing— probably a loose board in the floor or
in a piece of furniture.

“Bleeding hell!”

The curse on her lips had William turning around to
find Anne sitting on the floor with a foot-long board in her lap,
and a look of distress on her face. “What is it, Anne?”

“It wasn’t much, aye? But Lilly and I, we were
putting aside what little we could, in case we fell on hard times
again, and needed it like.” She took the empty linen pouch she’d
been holding and threw it back into the hole before replacing the
floorboard. “Do ye think this means she’s in trouble
?”

“I think it means that she is still alive, and
that’s a good thing.”

He watched her run all the possible scenarios in her
head, the brave face she’d been struggling to keep on, finally
slipping. “She’s all I’ve left. Ye’ve got to find ‘er, Sir. I do
no’ know what trouble she may’ve gotten into, but she’s a good
person. I heard that you’d been asking Mrs. Farthing about this
Lord that gone an’ got ‘imself murdered, an’ I can tell ye Lilly,
she’d nothing to do with that. ‘Tis not in her to do that sort of
thing. But there are other evils running the streets, from the
Secret Service to the thugs that care ‘bout no law, no one’s safe
anymore.”

It was clear she believed her sister to be innocent
and not capable of murder, and it was true enough that the poorer
neighborhoods were dangerous at best. He hoped, for Anne’s sake
that Lilly was hidden away someplace safe.

“Are you aware of any relations or attachments?
Anyone she may be close enough to where she could seek shelter or
aid?”

“She’s no’ really one to discuss such matters, but
there’s always someone sniffing ‘round her skirts. She’s real
pretty, ye see, but she’s ne’er paid them no heed— not that type o’
girl.”

“I know this must be hard for you, and I promise,
we’ll do all we can to find her. But in order to that, I need
complete honesty from you. I will not judge your sister, however
it’s imperative that I have the facts. Had she mentioned Lord Niles
Hawthorne?”

He saw a spark of anger flair in her eyes, but it
was gone not a moment later. “There was someone, aye? She ne’er
said his name, though the way she talked, she did make ‘im sound
awful fancy like. But I’m telling ye, she’d have nothing to do with
him like that. She only thought of him as a friend, though if he
had other plans, it was no fault of hers. I tried to tell her
nothing good could come of it, him a lord and her with nothing, but
she was not one to listen to what’s good for ‘er.”

“I’m going to ask you to think about this one last
time— is there anywhere else your sister could be?” If Lilly wasn’t
the murderer, then the longer she stayed missing, the greater the
threat to her life.

She shook her head no, a tear trailing its way down
her cheek. “I wish I knew.”

Chapter Twelve

Phoebe watched Seth stalk the room, his body tense
with obvious frustration. He had offered her the proof she needed
to trust him by showing her the plans for his latest tinkering, but
she was finding it difficult to put her hurt aside and give up
control of the situation. “I do trust you, Seth. I don’t know what
else to say.”

He turned to look at her, his blue eyes alight with
emotion. She felt suddenly naked as she stood there in nothing more
than her chemise, the light of the fire silhouetting her outline
through the veil of thin fabric. Seth crossed to her side, the look
in his eyes so intense it made her stomach clench and her heart
pound. He now stood inches from her, and Phoebe found herself
unable to break away from his gaze.

His voice was raspy and thick when he spoke. “I
believe you, my love. But do
you
truly believe it?”

He pulled her to him and covered her mouth with his,
taking, tasting, the force of his kiss catching Phoebe off guard,
as she resisted for just a moment, before softening in his arms.
With an arm around her waist, he dragged her back towards the bed,
his kisses never ceasing as he consumed her, body and soul. With
her heart thundering in her ears, she quickly freed him of his
shirt, his skin like fire under her touch, her hands finding their
way to loosen his belt.

With one quick move, he freed her of her chemise so
she stood before him naked, her pulse thready as she went weak with
anticipation. The firelight danced across his skin, catching the
plains and angles of his body, casting him in gold.

And then he was on her like a tiger taking down its
prey. Before she fully realized what he was doing, and with a
startling economy of movement, Seth bound her wrists with his
leather belt, quickly raised her arms above her head, and tied them
to the bedpost. Phoebe struggled, but it was too late.